The historic town of Ouadane
Ouadane is an ancient archaeological site perched on the edge of an escarpment on the plateau of the wilaya of Adrar, in northern Mauritania. Founded in 536 AH (1142 CE), it served as a prominent stop for Saharan trade caravans and a major centre of scholarly influence.
The history of Ouadane
Foundation: the town was founded in 536 AH by three founders — El Hadj Ali al-Sanhaji, El Hadj Yacoub al-Qurashi and El Hadj Ousmane al-Ansari.
The golden age: in the Middle Ages it became a principal meeting point for trade caravans arriving from the Maghreb, Egypt, Sudan and the Hijaz.
Learning and knowledge: it was nicknamed the town of the "forty scholars," owing to the great number of its learned men and jurists, renowned for teaching, authorship and travel literature.
World listing: the historic town was inscribed, together with its counterparts (Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata), on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
The principal monuments
The great wall: it encircles the old town, standing 4 metres high and 1.5 metres thick, built of stone and clay to protect it more than nine centuries ago.
The "Foum el-Mabrouk" gate: the largest of the historic wall's gates, it was the main entrance for caravans coming from the east.
The fortified well: an old well sunk inside the wall to supply the inhabitants with water during periods of siege or war.
The Street of the Forty Scholars: an ancient street commemorating the forty scholars who gathered and agreed to found — or to serve — learning in this place.
The old mosque: notable for its ancient minaret, among the oldest in the region.